2016 B1G Basketball Champs
Lilly Donahue | Indiana University
After a a last second loss to Minnesota, IU fans took to Twitter to make their usual case for the termination of Tom Crean, spurring the ever-present hashtag, #FireTomCrean. As an IU fan, I understand the frustration of having a season start with such high hopes, like wins over UNC and Kansas, only to end up all but out of the running for the NCAA Tournament. While I believe that most of IU’s recent struggles can be chalked up to injuries to key players, I still empathize with the fans. IU basketball’s success prior to the 21st century created extremely high expectations, and no coach since Bobby Knight has been able to satisfy the needs of the fanbase. So while Tom Crean’s future with IU remains to be seen and deserves to be debated, I draw the line at the next hashtag I saw. Many people calling for Crean’s termination also used #FireFredGlass, who is the current athletic director. Now, I haven’t agreed with every decision that Glass has made, but he has overseen one of the most successful overall periods in IU Athletics history, and for this reason, I think his name deserves to be left out of the IU postgame Twitter meltdowns. Let’s take a look at what Glass has done during his tenure at IU, and you can decide for yourself. (And, no, I am not getting paid by IU Athletics to write this, but Fred, if you’re reading this, I’ll take some tickets off your hands if you’d like)
Hires and Team Success
During his tenure as AD, here are some of the notable coaching changes that Glass has made:
- Men’s Basketball: Hired Tom Crean from Marquette
- At the time, IU basketball was abysmal after being slammed by sanctions. Crean rebuilt the program, and as someone who has witnessed the highs and lows of IUBB, I’m grateful to Crean for brining the program back. During his tenure, Crean has won Big Ten Coach of the Year (2016) and 2 Big Ten Titles. Crean has also sent notable players onto the NBA, including Cody Zeller, Victor Oladipo, and Yogi Ferrell.
- Football: Hired Kevin Wilson from Oklahoma
- Wilson’s exit from IU was awkward, but his success at IU shows the quality of his hiring. IU football has been historically terrible, but under Wilson, fans saw a glimmer of hope. Wilson led IU to two consecutive bowl games for the first time in 25 years. He also oversaw a resurgence in the RB corps, sending Tevin Coleman and Jordan Howard to the NFL and Devine Redding to the NFL Combine.
- Football: Tom Allen from South Florida
- Allen was a diamond in the rough, and Glass was the one who brought him here. Allen was recently named the HC, and as defensive coordinator he created an IU defense that was formidable and talented. He’s also proved to be quite a strong recruiter, and his future at IU looks bright.
- Men’s Soccer: Todd Yeagley
- Glass hired Todd Yeagley, a former IU and pro player and son of legendary soccer coach Jerry Yeagley. IU soccer has won 8 national titles, including one under Glass in 2012.
- Women’s Basketball: Teri Moren from Indiana State
- Moren followed the rocky exit of Curt Miller in 2014, and she’s been a huge hit. She led the team to their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2002 last year, and joined the men’s team in going undefeated at home throughout the 2016 season. She also landed star recruit Tyra Buss, who has been a major part of IUWBB’s recent success.
- Baseball
- Glass was AD when Tracy Smith, who now coaches at Arizona State, led the IU baseball team to their first College World Series appearance in school history. The program has moved into the top tier of schools, and produced Cubs star Kyle Schwarber.
- Olympics
- During Glass’s time as AD, IU Athletics has sent 34 athletes and alums to the Olympic Games. These athletes have won:
- Gold Medals- 6
- Silver Medals- 1
- Bronze Medals- 5
- During Glass’s time as AD, IU Athletics has sent 34 athletes and alums to the Olympic Games. These athletes have won:
IU Medal Winners at Sochi
Facilities and Environment
Along with on-field success, Glass has overseen the construction of many new facilities on the IU campus, and these have really boosted recruitment and fan interest. Projects include:
- Renovation of Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall and creation of Cook Hall (bball practice)
- Past and ongoing additions to Memorial Stadium
- Brand new baseball and softball facilities
Additionally, Glass created a new culture around IU athletics. The motto “24 Sports, One Team” has been a major part of his tenure, and involves increasing exposure and attendance for all sports. Further, he created the Excellence Academy, which is a program that helps student-athletes to excel during their time at IU. He also was the first AD to create a Student-Athlete Bill of Rights, which shows the University’s support for IU athletics on the field and in the classroom.
I’m happy to discuss the future of Tom Crean, as I believe his performance may merit questioning. If anyone’s on the hot seat, it’s Crean. But Glass’s seat? That should be ice cold.